Vapes Upgrade from XMax Starry V4

[MerryMonk]

I bought an XMax Starry V4 a few months back. It seems ok, but does seem to take a long time to finish a 0.35g bowl. Keeps producing vapour for nearly 20mins and would say the effects are never that great (vs smoking). I know I went midrange but how much of a difference would I see with something like the Tinymight 2 or Venty, I.e. are the effects more noticeable and would you get through a bowl quicker?

Sometimes I like a slower session but most the time prefer something that bit quicker.

 

[Joint Account]

I bought an XMax Starry V4 a few months back. It seems ok, but does seem to take a long time to finish a 0.35g bowl. Keeps producing vapour for nearly 20mins and would say the effects are never that great (vs smoking). I know I went midrange but how much of a difference would I see with something like the Tinymight 2 or Venty, I.e. are the effects more noticeable and would you get through a bowl quicker?

Sometimes I like a slower session but most the time prefer something that bit quicker.

It's a completely different experience.

A starry is great if you're completely new to cannabis, same with a V3 pro, etc.

I think S&B products are useless. Old tech, plastic everywhere, bulky, insanely smelly and a pain in the ass to clean.

Before they were sold they were decent, now it's all about the bottom line and making money with them.

Not to mention they constantly error out. I am their biggest hater.

The TM2, Solo III, Frolic, Firewood 11, etc. are all top tier devices and the power different is night and day. In my TM2 I can clear a 0.3 bowl in 2-3 hits and it'll be dark brown.

That said the starry is a conduction device, most top end devices are convection devices or Hybrids. There's very few conduction devices being made these days.

I don't think you need to jump to all the way to £300. The Solo III and Angus Enhanced are decent at that ~£200 bracket.

But If you want to be sure of the best experience go straight to the TM2. Raw power, all glass pathways, removable batteries, great with a bong, etc.

I learned a while back it's best to spend money on quality in the DHV scene otherwise it's disappointing and you end up wondering if they expensive ones are better anyway as you're finding out.

If you want something to directly replace smoking for you and be the most similar ritualistically then I would go look at a Dani Punch 2.

 

[MerryMonk]

Brilliant, thanks for the advice. That gives me a lot of confidence to start saving and make the step up!!

 

[Joint Account]

Brilliant, thanks for the advice. That gives me a lot of confidence to start saving and make the step up!!

I don't know what your specific needs are but if you're not always out and about I would keep the starry 4 for being out the house and consider a ball vape for in the house where space, kids, pets allow.

You can get them a fair bit cheaper than top end portables and of course they're a league above in performance even still. (The TM2 when paired with a T.bowl and some glass is like 60% ball vape).

 

[MerryMonk]

I don't know what your specific needs are but if you're not always out and about I would keep the starry 4 for being out the house and consider a ball vape for in the house where space, kids, pets allow.

You can get them a fair bit cheaper than top end portables and of course they're a league above in performance even still. (The TM2 when paired with a T.bowl and some glass is like 60% ball vape).

Great advice thanks. I’m definitely looking for something handheld but expecting an upgrade to be far bigger than the Starry V4. I might keep that for slower sessions. The weak magnet in the cap is an issue for out and about, I’ve got the burn scars to prove it

 

[Joint Account]

Great advice thanks. I’m definitely looking for something handheld but expecting an upgrade to be far bigger than the Starry V4. I might keep that for slower sessions. The weak magnet in the cap is an issue for out and about, I’ve got the burn scars to prove it

Then I would almost certainly get a TM2 (has the all glass advantage over the frolic) and if you decide to get a T.bowl (Ali Express do one for like £30) then you've got an experience somewhat comparable to a ball vape as well as an A-league device on the move.

You will need multiple batteries and an external charger to make the most of things because the performance drops a lot when you're below 50% battery. But it's a small price to pay for the quality.

It can also do slow sessions if you whack the temp down to 2-3 on the dial.

 

[MerryMonk]

Certainly looking like the TM2 is leading the way. I do like the thought of blasting through a bowl in a few draws as most of the time I do prefer a quicker session (especially in winter!). However, does it perform ok in session mode, e.g. if I wanted to stretch out for 5 to 10 mins?

I’m now even more disappointed with the Starry V4 now I’ve seen a few videos of the TM2. I want it now but it’s a decent chunk of cash!

 

[Joint Account]

Certainly looking like the TM2 is leading the way. I do like the thought of blasting through a bowl in a few draws as most of the time I do prefer a quicker session (especially in winter!). However, does it perform ok in session mode, e.g. if I wanted to stretch out for 5 to 10 mins?

I’m now even more disappointed with the Starry V4 now I’ve seen a few videos of the TM2. I want it now but it’s a decent chunk of cash!

Yeah you can draw out sessions init quite easily. The dial offers quite a wide temp range and it can be recalibrated even further.

I'm not much of a session vaper but I did recently get a good 15-20 puffs out of it on low settings and then temp stepping gradually.

The only thing I find annoying about it is stem loading but thats really a personal preference.oh or does get quite hot so you may well want to get a sleeve if you session vape frequently.

New post automatically merged: 23rd Jun, 2026

Have a watch of this as well mate

 

[MerryMonk]

Yep, that was the vid that sealed the deal

 

[MerryMonk]

Well from going about thinking about it, it's now "I want this on Friday!!", so I guess the card is just going to have to suck it up.

My only dilemma is seeing the Frolic thrown in as an option. Looks very similar in many respects but does look more robust to the odd drop and I've seen it referenced as being closer to a joint than a bong (like the TM2) so better suited to session vapes than the TM2 but still delivering the On Demand option.

Probably a few more videos to watch tonight, but if anyone has experience of running both (or general opinions on the Frolic) I would love to hear.

 

[Joint Account]

Well from going about thinking about it, it's now "I want this on Friday!!", so I guess the card is just going to have to suck it up.

My only dilemma is seeing the Frolic thrown in as an option. Looks very similar in many respects but does look more robust to the odd drop and I've seen it referenced as being closer to a joint than a bong (like the TM2) so better suited to session vapes than the TM2 but still delivering the On Demand option.

Probably a few more videos to watch tonight, but if anyone has experience of running both (or general opinions on the Frolic) I would love to hear.

They're very similar and largely comes down to preference.

TM2 is better looking imo, has the advantage of all glass pathways and has a more simple system to operate with the dial but can be fragile.

The Frolic has a larger battery and is more durable but has the drawbacks of plastic pathways effecting flavour.

The bigger battery is offset by the OLED, you'll get a similar number of bowls from both. The heater is the exact same as the TM2.

Really it just comes down to durability and plastic Vs glass pathways, maybe the way it's operated as well. Everything else is the same.

 

[MerryMonk]

After looking at the videos, I've ended up going for the Frolic. Terp flavour isn't the most important thing to me (trust me after using the Xmax Starry it's a good job) and the ease of cleaning on the TM2 looked more appealing. However, the Frolic seemed to be a little more amenable to longer sessions. Also, I had been torn between the Venty and TM2 originally, so it sounds like this sits in the sweet spot between the two. Let's hope that's the best of both worlds and not the worst!!

I think whichever I had parted the best part of £300 with I would still have doubts I've chosen the right one. Either way, hoping for a noticeable difference vs the Xmax

New post automatically merged: 25th Jun, 2026

They're very similar and largely comes down to preference.

TM2 is better looking imo, has the advantage of all glass pathways and has a more simple system to operate with the dial but can be fragile.

The Frolic has a larger battery and is more durable but has the drawbacks of plastic pathways effecting flavour.

The bigger battery is offset by the OLED, you'll get a similar number of bowls from both. The heater is the exact same as the TM2.

Really it just comes down to durability and plastic Vs glass pathways, maybe the way it's operated as well. Everything else is the same.

Oh, and thanks for all your help

 

[Joint Account]

After looking at the videos, I've ended up going for the Frolic. Terp flavour isn't the most important thing to me (trust me after using the Xmax Starry it's a good job) and the ease of cleaning on the TM2 looked more appealing. However, the Frolic seemed to be a little more amenable to longer sessions. Also, I had been torn between the Venty and TM2 originally, so it sounds like this sits in the sweet spot between the two. Let's hope that's the best of both worlds and not the worst!!

I think whichever I had parted the best part of £300 with I would still have doubts I've chosen the right one. Either way, hoping for a noticeable difference vs the Xmax

New post automatically merged: 25th Jun, 2026

Oh, and thanks for all your help

I hope its a winner for you mate! - Plenty of people enjoy it that's for sure.

 

[MerryMonk]

I hope its a winner for you mate! - Plenty of people enjoy it that's for sure.

Wow! It’s amazing and such a step up from the Starry XMax 4. Better flavour, easier to fill and clean, crazy ass quick to heat and it hits! I can understand about the terp loss and why the TM2 would be better. I think I would have been happy with both but the robustness and the “TM2/Venty lovechild” description swung it for me.

Regardless, anyone considering a step up in vape or want to save their lungs from combustible related toxins, I would do what you can to make the step up. Also, you get so much more out of the flower. A big investment but better on the wallet and lungs in the long run.

 

[Joint Account]

Wow! It’s amazing and such a step up from the Starry XMax 4. Better flavour, easier to fill and clean, crazy ass quick to heat and it hits! I can understand about the terp loss and why the TM2 would be better. I think I would have been happy with both but the robustness and the “TM2/Venty lovechild” description swung it for me.

Regardless, anyone considering a step up in vape or want to save their lungs from combustible related toxins, I would do what you can to make the step up. Also, you get so much more out of the flower. A big investment but better on the wallet and lungs in the long run.

I'm glad you're loving it mate! Bet its medicated your socks off lol.

 

[MerryMonk]

I'm glad you're loving it mate! Bet its medicated your socks off lol.

Sure has Don’t think I’ve ever had such relief for the back, or that I just can’t give a rats arse about it I have a feeling tonight is going to be a good night

 

[Joint Account]

Sure has Don’t think I’ve ever had such relief for the back, or that I just can’t give a rats arse about it I have a feeling tonight is going to be a good night

Enjoy space mate!